The Portland daily press., 1887-04-15
SENSIBLE FISH.
LSpringield Union.l
ANECDOTES OF RAYMOND.
Some of His Personal Characters
tics-His Love Of a Joke.
IN. Y. Times. I


Mr.. Raymond was one of the best liked
men in his profession. Every one had a
kind word for him. The members of his
company were all greatly attached to him.
He kept them for five or six years without
change, which is an unusual thing. When
he was forced to part with any of them he
always took it greatly to heart, John T.
Raymond's principal hobby was matching"
1t was perfect mania with him, and he
seemed to be utterly unable to break HIM
self of it, On one occasion he was acting in
California, and on the opening night he had
an enormous house. After the performance
was over he met John Mccullough. He went
up to the tragedian and shook hands.
John" said he, ''I'll match you for the
receipts of the house." Mccullough accept
ed. They tossed up pennies. Raymond
lost, and John Mccullough was the winner
of over $1,000.
Once in San Francisco he was TO take the
train to New York. So engrosssd was he in
matching" with a friend in the waiting
room for pennies that the train was steam
ing out OF the station when he suddenly re-
membered his engagement. lie jumped up
ON the moving cars just in time to save him
self
Mr.. Raymond's mania for matching came
upon him at times almost unconsciously.
Once he was about to start for Europe, and
sLolled into the office Of one of the steam
ship companies down town. He had never
seen the agent before, but he walked up to
him and said in meditative tones: Say, old
man, I'll match you for trip to Europe"
Raymond liked practical joke. 1t was
all the same to him If his jokes created a sem
satlon. He cared nothing for those who saw
them. On one occasion he was in San Fran
cisco with his bosom friend, Charles r. Bish-
op, now Nat Goodw.n's leading man. They
were at the Palace Hotel and were ascend
ing ing in crowded elevator; Raymond had
filed with ladies. Bishop had an unlighted
cigar in his hand Raymond saw it and pre-
tended to think it was lighted.
What do you mean by insulting these la
dies by smoking9" he asked Bishop fero-
ciously.
81 am not smoking" said Bishop, who
thought for the moment that Raymond was
in earnest
"Yes, you are. and it's an insult" was the
retort.I
Il tell you I'm not" said Bishop
III throw you out of this elevator pretty
quickly" The ladies screamed. The eleva-
tor stopped, and Raymond, winking at Bish-
op, took his arm and exclaimed affectionate-
ly: 'Ah,. you're coming to dine with me-"
leaving the ladies furious.
Raymond on Broadway was known and
feared. He would think nothing of calling
loudlysafter a friend, and when his summons
was obeyed exclaiming Say, old man, it's
fine day, isn't it?"
Raymond was an intimate friend of Soth-
ern. When he was acting in Paris with that
gentleman in Lord Dundreary" it was
against the law to strike a match on the
stage, and Raymond had to tear up the
Trenchard will instead Of burning it, He
thought this great shame, and complained
to SUthern. Burn it, They won't say any
thing to you" Sothern then went and told
the sergeant de vile to keep an eye on Ray
m MOI ihat gentleman STUCK one n matcn
on the stage and stopped his performance.
81 was yanked off the STAGE" he said after
ward. "The sergeant didn't know word of
English, and didn't know word of French,
SO that when he got through with me didn't
or heels.''